‘Ashura’ observed peacefully in Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi
‘Ashura’ was observed peacefully in the city with religious reverence amid foolproof security arrangements made by police, rangers and other law enforcement agencies. All 'Zuljinah', 'Tazia' and 'Alam' processions culminated peacefully at Qadeemi Imambargah late Saturday night where ‘Azadars’ observed ‘Sham-e-Gariban’.
A total of 64 big and small processions taken out from different localities joined the main procession which started from Colonel Maqbool Imambargah. The ‘azadars’ attended 113 ‘majalis’ on 'Ashura' day.
No untoward incident was reported during the ‘majalis’ and mourning processions in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on 'Ashura' day. The local administration had devised a plan to maintain law and order on 'Youm-e-Ashur' while control rooms were set up at the offices of the commissioner, DCO, CPO and DIG (operations) to monitor the security situation.
Police cleared the routes of processions in the city with the help of bomb disposal squad for the safety of mourners. Police and other law enforcement agencies strictly monitored people staying in hotels and guesthouses.
A total of 64 ‘Zuljinah’ processions were taken out from different parts of Rawalpindi, while over 300 ‘sabeels’ of milk and ‘sherbat’ were established along traditional routes. The followers also arranged for ‘niaz’ at traditional routes where food was distributed among participants. The ‘lungar’ arrangements were strictly checked by the local administration and the health department.
The main procession was taken out from Imambargah Colonel Maqbool Hussain at about 11:25 a.m. and it culminated at Qadeemi Imambargah late night. The distance of the main procession was about 2 kilometres and it had 7 vulnerable points. The main pocession passed through its traditional route of Noorani Masjid, Teli Mohallah; Kalyan Wali Masjid, Iqbal Road near Chitti Hattian; Hanafia Masjid near Naya Mohallah; Fawara Chowk; Taleem-ul-Quran, Dingi Khoi Chowk; Hanafia Masjid, Purana Qila; and Jamia Masjid Road.
The law enforcement agencies frisked the mourners before they entered ‘majalis’ and joined processions on ‘Ashura’ day. The 'Rescue 1122' had made arrangements to deal with any emergency, besides providing medical treatment to those injured during ‘zanjeer zani’ and ‘matam’. Hundreds of ‘azadars’ observed ‘zanjeer zani’ at Sarafa Bazaar, Trunk Bazaar, Fawara Chowk, Jamia Masjid Road, Bara Bazaar and Bhabra Bazaar.
Political parties and non-governmental organisations had set up camps to provide assistance to the mourners. The ‘sunni’ followers also made arrangements to distribute ‘lungar’ among the participants on the ‘Ashura’ day. People belonging to other schools of thought also participated in the mourning processions to express solidarity with the mourners. Traffic was banned on processions routes while shops remained closed.
Around 7,000 security personnel were deployed in the district to ensure security of ‘majalis’ and ‘Ashura’ processions. Aerial surveillance of 'Ashura' processions was conducted to ensure security of mourners.